Laurier expert alert: Conflict in the Middle East

March 5, 2026
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO — As conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues, Canadians are being urged to avoid all travel to several countries in the region — including Lebanon, United Arab Emirates and Qatar — as the violence spreads.

Laurier experts are available to comment on the conflict in the Middle East. The following list includes Laurier experts who are available to speak at this time but does not represent the full breadth of expertise that exists at the institution. For a comprehensive inventory of Laurier’s faculty researchers, consult the Experts at Laurier database.

• Bree Akesson — Impact of war and displacement on families in Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Syria; migration and resettlement related to international conflict; trauma in war-torn countries.
• Andrew Basso — International conflict and security, human rights, crimes against humanity, war crimes.
• Gavin Brockett — Middle East history, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, International Students Overcoming War (ISOW).
• Tom Deligiannis — International conflict and security, peace and conflict studies.
• Timothy Donais — Global studies, international conflict, peace and conflict studies, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, protection of civilians.
• Alistair Edgar — Canadian troops, defence policy, international security.
• Ann Fitz-Gerald— Military operations, global security, international relations, peace and conflict resolution.
• Salar Ghamat — Supply chain analytics, Iran.
• Madhu Kalimipalli — volatility modelling for markets, risk management.
• Ridwan Karim — International trade, political economy, tariffs, development economics.